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Picking Patch Fordingbridge
Picking Patch Fordingbridge hosts seasonal fun for everyone!
Pumpkin Picking Patch, Bickton Manor Farm , Fordingbridge, Hampshire, SP6 2HA
Website Email 07899994963Let's Talk
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REVIEW: Fordingbridge Maize Maze & Sunflower Picking Patch by Picking Patch
We owe you an apology; we're late to the party discovering this absolute gem of an activity! However, there are still a good few weeks' left to enjoy the magnificent sunflowers and the wondrous Maize Maze and shortly after, the Pumpkin Picking Patch will be open.
Visiting the Fordingbridge Maize Maze and Sunflower Picking Patch is way up there on our list of things to do within an hour of Poole.
Even though we travelled late morning on a Friday during the summer holidays, it still only took us about 45 minutes to get there from the centre of Poole and on a good run it should take about 30 minutes. It's located just outside Fordingbridge on the A338 Ringwood Road, there's clear signage and flags and the enormous bright yellow sunflowers are visible from the road so you won't miss it.
You drive straight in to a car park in a field next to the sunflowers. While parking is free, the organisers are raising money for Great Ormond Street to bring you the Peter Pan's Neverland themed Maze so are welcoming donations instead of a parking fee.
We were warmly greeted at the entrance which is located right by the car park. Under 4s go free and it's £9.50 entry for adults. I must admit that we did initially think this might be a little steep for a maze but as soon as we realised the scale of what was included, we very quickly understood and actually think it's extremely great value for money!
You're welcomed with such a treat for the senses - to the left you have an incredible sunflower field, home to certainly some of the biggest and brightest sunflowers we've seen, next to that a gorgeous wild flower patch and as you walk towards the maze, there are areas for making your own Bubble Wands and blowing giant bubbles, painting and more. These aren't included in the entry fee though and there's a small charge.
I love all the attention to detail and fun ways to engage and educate the children with fun signs dotted throughout on how bees fly, how much pollen is needed to produce honey (pollen of 2 million flowers to produce 1 pound!)
Our 4 year old was keen to head straight in to the maze. My husband and I hadn't even clicked at this point what fun lie ahead of us; we were happy to be going in to what we thought was your bog-standard maize maze. Only when we had to swing in to the maze on a rope and then heard the sound of the fairies and lost boys we realised that we had entered Neverland!
No expense has been spared with creating the themes and it was so lovely to see our daughter's imagination running wild and bringing to life the Peter Pan story. The maze is vast with different Peter Pan themes and activities to enjoy as you reach certain points in the maze, including catching Peter and Tink's shadows, an Indian Camp with wigwams, Reviving Tink by clapping and drumming, with the aim of finding Captain Hook to complete the maze - here in Treasure Island you can walk the plank, steer the ship and meet Captain Hook himself.
NB. There are little little covered arrows if you get a little lost so don't worry if you feel you have gone round in a circle, just look for the little posts and uncover the arrow if you need to!
As you exit the maze you can see the Pumpkin Patch which is almost ready for October and the Scarecrows and decor is coming along nicely, we can't wait to return for this from the 9th October.
After all the excitement it was time for some refreshments. Our 4 year old dragged daddy along to the ice cream van while I got us adults some coffees and cakes from the Grounded Coffee van.
There are clean portaloos and lots of hand gel around. Although you're in the middle of a field, don't worry about taking the kids - you have all the amenities you need apart from a nappy changing area but I'm sure no-one would complain if you had to do an al fresco nappy change.
We hope you love your Picking Patch experience as much as we did and for more info on their Pumpkin Picking adventure visit our Total Guide to Pumpkin Picking in and around Poole.
Fordingbridge Maize Maze and PYO Sunflowers address: A338 Ringwood Rd, Bickton, Fordingbridge SP6 2HA
To view some of our experience at the Maize Maze click on the video below to view our Facebook Live video.
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